The Samuel Jackson Five
The Samuel Jackson Five are an indie band from Norway, having to date released two albums, Same Same, But Different (2004) and Easily Misunderstood (2005). They started as a failed d&b project, entering the post-rock genre, having continued to caress my soul with such beautiful music. And they get 2037038 bonus points for having such an awesome band name and awesome track titles.
Hmm…how would I describe their music? Definitely a fusion of post-rock and jazz. You’ll find this fusion is more apparent in Same Same, But Different than it is in Easily Misunderstood; “Counting Sheep,” “Sing Slow, Walk Fast,” and “Postmans Joke” (all from Same Same, But Different) are some notable tracks where you can definitely sense that post-rock-jazz fusion. I can hear the d&b influence in album-titled track, “Same Same, But Different” as well; too bad there’s not more like it. There is an excellent blend of instruments without making it sound overdone; “Michael Collins Autograph” (Easily Misunderstood) is a good example. There’s not a lot of pedal delay, reverb, etc. as you might expect from the post-rock sound. This band can definitely convey a variety of rhythms, from fast-beat bright sounds to psychedelic mellow compositions, but overall they are pretty upbeat which is great if you’re not looking into long-ass crescendo-decrescendo pieces familiar to the genre.
Although I’m not an expert in post-rock, I can definitely say The Samuel Jackson Five step it up from the mainstream. There are some tracks where I find myself go, “Oh yeah—that’s familiar,” but most other tracks surprise the hell out of me. Definitely one of my favourite post-rock artists to date! The band is looking to release their third album this year; possibly with vocals this time round. I highly recommend this band as an essential listen for those interested in getting into the post-rock genre. You will not be disappointed.
Here are a couple of my favourite tracks:
The Samuel Jackson Five – Clubbers Dream (Same Same, But Different, 2004)
The Samuel Jackson Five – Postmans Joke (Same Same, But Different, 2004)
The Samuel Jackson Five – Michael Collins Autograph (Easily Misunderstood, 2005)
Check out their official website to find instructions on how to order their albums.
